The first written record we have of the phrase "alpha and omega" is from some old manuscripts of the Christian New Testament.
The phrase "I am the Alpha and the Omega" (Koiné Greek: "ἐγώ εἰμί τὸ Ἄλφα καὶ τὸ Ὦ"), is an appellation of Jesus and of the Father in the Book of Revelation (verses 1:8, 21:6, and 22:13).[2] The first part of this phrase ("I am the Alpha and the Omega") is first found in Chapter 1 verse 8 ("1:8"), and is found in every manuscript of Revelation that has 1:8. Several later manuscripts repeat "I am the Alpha and the Omega" in 1:11 too, but do not receive support here from most of the oldest manuscripts, including the Alexandrine, Sinaitic, and Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus. It is, therefore, omitted in some modern translations. Scholar Robert Young stated, with regard to "I am the Alpha and the Omega" in 1:11, the "oldest [manuscripts] omit" it.[3]
A similar reference is in Isaiah 44,[4][5] where the Father says to be the first and the one who is after all.
Christianity
Alpha (Α) and omega (Ω) are the first and last letters, respectively, of the classical (Ionic) Greek alphabet. Thus, the phrase "I am the alpha and the omega" is further clarified with the additional phrase, "the beginning and the end" in Revelation 21:6, 22:13. The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet were used because the book of Revelation is in the New Testament, which was originally written in Greek.
This phrase is interpreted by many Christians to mean that Jesus has existed for all eternity or that God is eternal. Many commentators and dictionaries ascribe the title "the alpha and the omega" to both God and to Christ.[6]Barnes' Notes on the New Testament (1974) claims: "It cannot be absolutely certain that the writer meant to refer to the Lord Jesus specifically here ... There is no real incongruity in supposing, also, that the writer here meant to refer to God as such."[7] Most Christian denominations also teach that the title applies to God (Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit).
The letters Alpha and Omega, in juxtaposition, are often used as a Christian visual symbol (see examples). The symbols were used in early Christianity and appear in the Roman catacombs. The letters were shown hanging from the arms of the cross in Early Christian art, and some cruces gemmatae, jeweled crosses in precious metal, have formed letters hanging in this way, called pendilia; for example, in the Asturian coat of arms, which is based upon the Asturian Victory Cross. In fact, despite always being in Greek, the letters became more common in Western than Eastern Orthodox Christian art. They are often shown to the left and right of Christ's head, sometimes within his halo, where they take the place of the Christogram used in Orthodox art.
In Hebrew, the word emet (אמת, meaning "truth"), is referred to as the "Seal of God."[8][9][10] [Cf. Isaiah 44:6[11]] The word is composed of the first, middle, and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Islam
The Qur'an gives al-ʾAwwal (ٱلْأَوَّل), meaning "The First" and al-ʾĀkhir (ٱلْآخِر), meaning "The Last" as two of the names of God: 57:3.
APL programming language
Some dialects of the APL programming language support the direct function syntax where the left (optional) and right arguments are denoted by the letters alpha and omega. For example, the following function computes the sum of the left argument and twice the right argument:
^Gauding, Madonna (2009). The Signs and Symbols Bible: The Definitive Guide to Mysterious Markings. New York, NY: Sterling Pub. Co. p. 84. ISBN9781402770043.
^At this time, the Greek name of the letter was still "Ô" (Ὦ), which is found in the earliest Greek manuscripts; the later name "omega" (Ὦ μέγα) is found in many later Greek manuscripts. See Allen, W. Sidney (1987) [1968]. Vox Graeca (third ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 173. ISBN978-0-521-33367-2.
^Young, Robert (1977). Young's Concise Commentary on the Holy Bible. p. 180.
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For other uses see Alpha and Omega disambiguation Alpha A or a and omega W or w are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet and a title of Christ and God in the Book of Revelation This pair of letters is used as a Christian symbol 1 and is often combined with the Cross Chi rho or other Christian symbols The Greek letters alpha and omega Contents 1 Origin 2 Christianity 3 Judaism 4 Islam 5 APL programming language 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksOrigin EditThe first written record we have of the phrase alpha and omega is from some old manuscripts of the Christian New Testament The phrase I am the Alpha and the Omega Koine Greek ἐgw eἰmi tὸ Ἄlfa kaὶ tὸ Ὦ is an appellation of Jesus and of the Father in the Book of Revelation verses 1 8 21 6 and 22 13 2 The first part of this phrase I am the Alpha and the Omega is first found in Chapter 1 verse 8 1 8 and is found in every manuscript of Revelation that has 1 8 Several later manuscripts repeat I am the Alpha and the Omega in 1 11 too but do not receive support here from most of the oldest manuscripts including the Alexandrine Sinaitic and Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus It is therefore omitted in some modern translations Scholar Robert Young stated with regard to I am the Alpha and the Omega in 1 11 the oldest manuscripts omit it 3 A similar reference is in Isaiah 44 4 5 where the Father says to be the first and the one who is after all Christianity EditAlpha A and omega W are the first and last letters respectively of the classical Ionic Greek alphabet Thus the phrase I am the alpha and the omega is further clarified with the additional phrase the beginning and the end in Revelation 21 6 22 13 The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet were used because the book of Revelation is in the New Testament which was originally written in Greek This phrase is interpreted by many Christians to mean that Jesus has existed for all eternity or that God is eternal Many commentators and dictionaries ascribe the title the alpha and the omega to both God and to Christ 6 Barnes Notes on the New Testament 1974 claims It cannot be absolutely certain that the writer meant to refer to the Lord Jesus specifically here There is no real incongruity in supposing also that the writer here meant to refer to God as such 7 Most Christian denominations also teach that the title applies to God Jesus the Father and the Holy Spirit The letters Alpha and Omega in juxtaposition are often used as a Christian visual symbol see examples The symbols were used in early Christianity and appear in the Roman catacombs The letters were shown hanging from the arms of the cross in Early Christian art and some cruces gemmatae jeweled crosses in precious metal have formed letters hanging in this way called pendilia for example in the Asturian coat of arms which is based upon the Asturian Victory Cross In fact despite always being in Greek the letters became more common in Western than Eastern Orthodox Christian art They are often shown to the left and right of Christ s head sometimes within his halo where they take the place of the Christogram used in Orthodox art The Chi rho symbol with Alpha and Omega Catacombs of Domitilla Rome The Greek letters alpha and omega surround the halo of Jesus in the catacombs of Rome from the 4th century AW in stained glass Arms with Alpha and Omega Flag of AsturiasJudaism EditIn Hebrew the word emet אמת meaning truth is referred to as the Seal of God 8 9 10 Cf Isaiah 44 6 11 The word is composed of the first middle and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet Islam EditThe Qur an gives al ʾAwwal ٱل أ و ل meaning The First and al ʾAkhir ٱل آخ ر meaning The Last as two of the names of God 57 3 APL programming language EditSome dialects of the APL programming language support the direct function syntax where the left optional and right arguments are denoted by the letters alpha and omega For example the following function computes the sum of the left argument and twice the right argument 2 See also EditAlpha and Omega disambiguation Alpha et Omega Attributes of God in Christianity Chi Rho Christian symbolism Everything Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament Names of God in Islam Names of God in JudaismReferences Edit Gauding Madonna 2009 The Signs and Symbols Bible The Definitive Guide to Mysterious Markings New York NY Sterling Pub Co p 84 ISBN 9781402770043 At this time the Greek name of the letter was still O Ὦ which is found in the earliest Greek manuscripts the later name omega Ὦ mega is found in many later Greek manuscripts See Allen W Sidney 1987 1968 Vox Graeca third ed Cambridge Cambridge University Press p 173 ISBN 978 0 521 33367 2 Young Robert 1977 Young s Concise Commentary on the Holy Bible p 180 Isaiah 44 6 8 Interlinear Greek English Septuagint Old Testament LXX in Ancient Greek and English p 2432 The New Bible Dictionary edited by Alton Bryant Bible Dictionary by Wm Smith and the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Notes on the New Testament Explanatory and Practical by Albert Barnes 1956 1962 1974 ISBN 978 0825422003 Yoma 69b 7 8 www sefaria org Retrieved 2020 11 26 Shabbat 55a 12 www sefaria org Retrieved 2020 11 26 Bereishit Rabbah 81 2 www sefaria org Retrieved 2020 11 26 Isaiah 44 6 www sefaria org Retrieved 2020 11 26 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alpha Omega Hassett Maurice M 1907 A and W In Herbermann Charles ed Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 1 New York Robert Appleton Company Alpha and Omega in Scripture in the Catholic Encyclopedia at newadvent org Alpha and Omega at the Jewish Encyclopedia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alpha and Omega amp oldid 1126845072, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
